The San Francisco International Film Festival comes to an end tonight, and it feels like it just began! So many films, so little time.
Check the calendar, as there’s still a chance to see some good movies today. Or, you can just look back at days past, and lament all the awesome movies you missed. Alas.
It wouldn’t be closing night without a big movie and a big party, and the festival is providing both. At 7PM at the Castro Theater, you can see Before Midnight, the third film in director Richard Linklater’s “Before” series. The previous entries, Before Sunrise, and Before Sunset, both focus on American Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and French Celine (Julie Delpy), as they meet in their early 20’s, and then reconnect almost ten years later.
It’s not a huge spoiler to say that in Before Midnight, we meet up with them again, and we learn the state of their relationship, almost 20 years after they first met. And let’s just say, their relationship is a lot different now.
I would never in a million years recommend seeing this movie if you haven’t seen the first two, because I cannot imagine it being a pleasant experience. As it is, it’s often a very uncomfortable movie to watch, and if you don’t know the past relationship between these characters, (or if you do, and but you never liked them much), I doubt this movie will win you over.
Which makes it an odd choice to close the festival. Too bad they didn’t schedule a showing of the two previous movies to lead up to it. But hopefully, the theater will be filled with nothing but fans, and if YOU are a fan, then get down to the Castro, as director Richard Linklater and star (and co-writer) Julie Delpy are both scheduled to be in attendance.
The closing night party party, which is being held at Ruby Skye, includes dancing, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres, in a setting inspired by the film. As of right now, tickets are still available!
